New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Fidimpmaxpi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Fidimpmaxpi’, characterized by its upright and broadly outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded plant form; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; large light red purple-colored flowers with red purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIDIMPMAXPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fidimpmaxpi’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new freely-branching New GuineaImpatiens plants with early and freely flowering habit and largeuniquely-colored attractive flowers.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made in 2005by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands of a proprietary selectionof Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081310, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatienshawkeri identified as code number AMI 081320, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selectedby the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in DeLier, The Netherlands in 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by vegetative cuttingsin a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2006 hasshown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens plant have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fidimpmaxpi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fidimpmaxpi’ as a new and distinct Impatiensplant:

-   -   1. Upright and broadly outwardly spreading growth habit; mounded        plant form.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large light red purple-colored flowers with red        purple-colored centers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the parentselections. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants ofthe parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of        the parent selections.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are larger than        flowers of plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatienshawkeri ‘Fidimppi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,708. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Fidimppi’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Fidimppi’.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens were larger than        flowers of plants of ‘Fidimppi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Impatiens plant. The photograph comprises a topperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fidimpmaxpi’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers in a glass-coveredgreenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands under cultural practices typicalof commercial Impatiens production. During the production of the plants,day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were eleven weeks oldwhen the photograph and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Fidimpmaxpi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081310, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens            hawkeri identified as code number AMI 081320, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at            temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six to eight days at            temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 19            days at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 14 to 21            days at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine; white to brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and broadly outwardly            spreading growth habit; mounded plant form, flattened            globular; freely branching habit with about five lateral            branches; pinching is typically not required; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 31 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 50 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 29 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 146B tinted with close to 183A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of about five; simple.        -   Length.—About 13 cm.        -   Width.—About 4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; moderately glossy in luster.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than N137A; venation,            close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 138B; venation, close to 138B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 147D slightly tinted with close to            183D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded axillary            flowers; freely flowering habit with about 25 flowers            developing per plant; flowers positioned above the foliage            and typically face upright or outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse            conditions; in the garden, continuous flowering from spring            through the summer in The Netherlands; early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about ten to eleven weeks            after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant            under greenhouse conditions; petals self-cleaning, gynoecium            persistent.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth: About 5 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.            Shape: Ovoid; pointed. Color: Close to N57C and 58A.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a            single whorl. Length, banner petal: About 2.5 cm. Length,            lateral and lower petals: About 3 cm. Width, banner petal:            About 5 cm. Width, lateral and lower petals: About 3.5 cm.            Shape, all petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals: Emarginate.            Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals: Entire.            Texture, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, banner petal: When opening, upper surface:            Darker than 62A; towards the base, close to N57A. When            opening, lower surface: Darker than 62A; center, close to            N57A to N57C; at the apex, close to N144B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Darker than 62A; towards the base, close to            N57C; color becoming closer to 62C and 62D with development.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 62A; center, close to            N57C; at the apex, close to N144B. Color, lateral and lower            petals: When opening, upper surface: Darker than 62A;            towards the base, close to N57A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 62A to 62C; towards the base, close to            N57B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 62A to 62C;            towards the base, close to N57A; color becoming closer to            62C and 62D with development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 62A to 62C; towards the base, close to N57C.            Sepals: Quantity and arrangement: Three; two lateral sepals            and the third modified with an elongated spur. Length,            lateral sepals: About 1.5 cm. Length, spurred sepal: About            1.8 cm. Length, spur: About 4.5 cm. Width, lateral sepals:            About 6 mm. Width, spurred sepal: About 1.5 cm. Diameter,            spur: About 2 mm. Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape,            spurred sepal: Broadly ovate with elongated spur. Apex, all            sepals: Acuminate. Base, all sepals: Cuneate. Margin, all            sepals: Entire. Texture, all sepals, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature: All sepals,            upper surface: Close to N57C and 62B. All sepals, lower            surface: Close to N57C and 62C. Spur, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 53B. Color, mature: Lateral sepals, upper            surface: Close to N57C and 144B. Lateral sepals, lower            surface: Close to 144B. Spurred sepal, upper surface: Close            to N57C and 62B. Spurred sepal, lower surface: Close to N57C            and 62C. Spur, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 53B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle:            Mostly erect. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at            anthers; filaments free. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            color: Close to 158B and N57D. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Capitate.            Stigma color: Close to 158D. Ovary color: Close to 146B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Impatiens plant.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Fidimpmaxpi’as illustrated and described.